Greatest of All Time — Season 2Chapter 7: The Tournament of the Legendary Sword
The announcement shook the entire school.
DING! DING!
Every student gathered in the main hall as the principal stepped onto the stage.
"Students!"
The room became silent.
"This year, the legendary Sword Tournament will begin!"
A massive image appeared behind him.
A mysterious sword floated above an ancient temple.
"The legendary sword has been discovered inside the Forbidden Dimension. According to ancient records, the warrior who reaches the sword and proves their worth may claim it."
The students exploded with excitement.
"A legendary sword?!"
"That's insane!"
"Imagine becoming the strongest!"
The principal raised his hand.
"But there is one rule."
Everyone became silent.
"Only three teams may enter the Forbidden Dimension."
Arashio's eyes widened.
"Three teams?"
The principal nodded.
"Each team must have exactly six members."
Siya immediately looked at Arashio.
"You're joining my team."
Arashio blinked.
"Wait, what?"
"Too late."
She smiled.
Arashio sighed.
"Why do I feel like I had no choice?"
From inside his consciousness, James laughed.
"Because you didn't."
Saku added,
"Congratulations, Arashio. You've officially been kidnapped by your own friends."
"Both of you shut up!"
Arashio shouted inside his mind.
Siya stared at him.
"Why are you making that face again?"
"...Nothing."
TEAM ONE
Arashio Siya Alya Neku Aika Kairo
Kairo was a new student with messy black hair and a strange golden eye.
He stood quietly at the back.
Arashio looked at him.
"Hey, Kairo. What's your Monster Soul?"
Kairo smiled.
"You'll find out when you need to."
Arashio stared at him.
"That's suspicious."
Aika laughed.
"He's always like that."
Neku crossed her arms.
"Then our team has two mysterious people."
Everyone looked at Arashio.
Arashio pointed at himself.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
Siya smiled.
"You're definitely the most mysterious one."
Inside his mind—
James whispered,
"She's right."
Saku added,
"Extremely right."
Arashio clenched his fist.
"I swear, one day I'm going to find a way to punch both of you inside my own head."
James laughed.
"Good luck."
TEAM TWO
Raven — Monster Soul: Black Wolf Mika — Monster Soul: Crystal Butterfly Daren — Monster Soul: Iron Rhino Yuri — Monster Soul: Storm Hawk Leon — Monster Soul: Shadow Snake Faye — Monster Soul: Moon Rabbit
Their leader, Raven, stared directly at Arashio.
"So you're the guy everyone is talking about."
Arashio pointed at himself.
"Me?"
Raven smiled.
"Don't disappoint me."
Arashio shrugged.
"No promises."
Siya immediately grabbed Arashio's sleeve.
"Don't provoke him."
Arashio whispered,
"I wasn't!"
James laughed.
"You absolutely were."
TEAM THREE
Ren — Monster Soul: Flame Lion Kira — Monster Soul: Ice Wolf Damon — Monster Soul: Thunder Eagle Luna — Monster Soul: Silver Fox Zero — Monster Soul: Dark Crow Mira — Monster Soul: Golden Serpent
Damon looked toward Team One.
"So that's the competition?"
Ren cracked his knuckles.
"This tournament is ours."
Arashio looked at them.
"Everyone here is so serious."
Aika whispered,
"Maybe because we're competing for a legendary sword?"
Arashio thought for a moment.
"Ah."
"That makes sense."
THE FORBIDDEN DIMENSION
A gigantic portal opened above the tournament arena.
BOOOOOOM!
Dark clouds surrounded the portal.
The three teams stepped forward.
The principal shouted—
"Your mission is simple!"
"Reach the legendary temple!"
"Find the Divine Sword!"
"And survive!"
The portal suddenly pulled everyone inside.
WHOOSH!
Arashio opened his eyes.
He was standing in a strange forest.
Purple trees.
Floating rocks.
Glowing rivers.
Siya looked around.
"Where are the others?"
Arashio shrugged.
"Probably somewhere else."
Neku pointed forward.
"Look!"
A massive ancient door stood between the trees.
Alya smiled.
"Maybe the sword is inside."
Kairo suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
Everyone turned.
The ground began shaking.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
A gigantic green slime slowly rose from the ground.
Its body was enormous.
Two glowing red eyes appeared.
Neku screamed.
"That's not a slime!"
Aika stepped backward.
"That's a SLIME KING!"
The monster roared.
"GRRRRRAAAAAAA!"
Arashio looked at it.
"...Why does it look like a giant piece of jelly?"
Siya stared at him.
"Seriously?"
"Now?"
Arashio shrugged.
"It's true."
The slime suddenly launched itself toward them.
BOOOOM!
Everyone jumped away.
Siya summoned her Phoenix Soul.
"Phoenix Flame!"
Golden fire exploded.
The slime absorbed the flames.
Siya froze.
"...That didn't work."
Neku summoned her Monster Soul.
A massive magical creature appeared.
"Attack!"
The creature charged.
SPLASH!
It was swallowed by the slime.
Neku screamed.
"MY MONSTER!"
Arashio stared.
"Okay."
"Now I'm worried."
The slime attacked again.
BOOM!
Alya was thrown into a tree.
"Alya!"
Arashio rushed toward her.
Kairo suddenly appeared.
"Move."
His golden eye flashed.
A powerful golden barrier appeared.
CRAAACK!
The slime smashed into it.
Kairo gritted his teeth.
"That thing is too strong."
The monster broke through.
Everyone was thrown backward.
Arashio hit the ground.
His vision became blurry.
Inside his consciousness—
James stood silently.
Saku looked at him.
"Well?"
James smiled.
"I think it's time."
Saku cracked his knuckles.
"Finally!"
Arashio heard their voices.
"Arashio."
He slowly opened his eyes.
"Let us fight with you."
Arashio whispered,
"Together?"
James smiled.
"Always."
Saku raised his fist.
"Let's show this oversized jelly who's boss!"
Arashio stood.
The atmosphere changed.
Siya looked at him.
"Arashio?"
A strange energy began spreading around his body.
One side—
Crimson flames.
The other—
Blue lightning.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire forest shook.
Arashio's right eye became crimson red.
His left eye turned neon blue.
James' power.
Saku's power.
Two legendary souls.
One body.
Arashio slowly raised his hand.
The slime roared.
James whispered—
"Ready?"
Arashio smiled.
"Let's finish this."
CRIMSON!
Fire exploded from one side.
BLUE!
Lightning erupted from the other.
The two energies collided around Arashio.
Then—
BOOOOOM!
He disappeared.
The slime didn't even see him move.
BAM!
Arashio punched its body.
The entire monster flew backward.
"WHAT?!"
Neku's mouth dropped open.
Alya stared.
"That was one punch!"
Siya smiled.
"That's Arashio."
The slime recovered and transformed into an enormous monster.
Its body covered the entire sky.
Arashio looked upward.
James laughed.
"Big target."
Saku shouted,
"BIG PUNCH!"
Arashio jumped.
Crimson flames surrounded his right fist.
Blue lightning covered his left.
He brought both fists together.
"CRIMSON—BLUE—"
The monster opened its mouth.
"SOUL BREAKER!"
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A gigantic explosion destroyed the battlefield.
The slime shattered into thousands of glowing pieces.
Silence.
Arashio landed on the ground.
His power disappeared.
He fell forward.
Siya caught him.
"Arashio!"
He opened his eyes.
"Did we win?"
James whispered,
"Obviously."
Saku laughed.
"Easy victory!"
Arashio smiled.
But suddenly—
The ancient door behind them opened by itself.
CREEEEEEAK.
Everyone turned.
Beyond the door was a dark staircase leading deep underground.
At the bottom...
A mysterious blue light was glowing.
Kairo's expression suddenly changed.
"The sword..."
Arashio slowly stood.
"What?"
Kairo stared into the darkness.
"The legendary sword is waiting."
Then—
A terrifying voice echoed through the dimension.
"Only one of you will leave this place with the legendray sword."
The six members of Team One froze.
Arashio's eyes narrowed.
From somewhere deep beneath the temple...
Something ancient had awakened.
And it wasn't the sword.
TO BE CONTINUED...